Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the National Ambulance Service. This issue has been raised by a number of Senators over the past while and by various radio stations throughout the country. It is quite obvious that the National Ambulance Service is not working efficiently. I was approached recently by a very worried citizen who was in a desperate state one night trying to get an ambulance for his wife. There was no ambulance available. The ambulance service is not working properly and that is why I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate.

We have the National Ambulance Service and a private ambulance service also. We have the 90 second window where, when you phone 999 and get through to the ambulance service, it despatches an ambulance within 90 seconds but that ambulance could be two or three hours away. At the same time, a private ambulance could be available in the nearest town, or in the same town. It would seem there is no joined-up thinking in regard to the National Ambulance Service and the private ambulance service. It is important that we have a good debate in this House on this issue and put the cards on the table in regard to the National Ambulance Service and the private ambulance service to see how they can work together for the betterment of communities and people.